News that starts with the people who are normally asked last
Heatwaves and Net Zero: Who sets the climate agenda?
Care about independent and ethical news (and Mathilda’s baby)? Support Media Storm on Patreon!This month, the UN released a new report about climate change: the planet is soon poised to breach the safe temperature limit, reaching at least 1.8C under even the most optimistic future. The report is clear: “There are no good outcomes above 1.5C”. Every fraction of a degree will cost lives, destroy livelihoods, deepen inequality and push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage.
Pretty huge news right? Not according to the mainstream media, who dedicated a mere two articles to this report.
This summer, rolling heatwaves hit the northern hemisphere with an intensity not ever seen before. Droughts have ruined Europe’s harvests. A collapsing glacier led to a flash flood that swept away over a thousand people in Nepal and Tibet. A ‘godzilla’ El Niño is brewing in the Pacific that scientists say will be the strongest in 1000 years. And the media? They’re dedicating time to callers who think trees spontaneously combust and telling the public to just ‘embrace a Mediterranean lifestyle’. (By the way, Sunday Telegraph editor, that Mediterranean lifestyle you speak of now includes wildfires, displacement and death).
Scientists have repeatedly proved that the best hope for humanity is to stick to a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 - cutting down major pollution sources like oil and gas, and using natural absorbers to help take the remaining gases out of the air.
In 2019 Theresa May signed the UK’s Net Zero target into law. “Standing by is not an option,” she said. The landmark pledge reflected a rare cross-party consensus. But last year, the UK’s right-wing parties began openly questioning long-settled climate science. The Tories u-turned on their pledge, and Net Zero became increasingly politically contentious.
Negative articles and editorials about net zero skyrocketed. Nearly 100 UK newspaper editorials opposed climate action in 2025. There were more than two editorials a week attacking Ed Miliband, the then Labour energy secretary. It marked the first time that editorials opposing climate action overtook those supporting it. Where did they come from?
Who is funding fossil fuel interests? Why has climate denial taken root in the right-wing? And what can we do when faced with climate doom?
To help us answer those questions and shine a light on the fossil fuel interests that run our news cycle, we’re joined by DeSmog investigative journalist Sam Bright and climate journalist and writer Diyora Shadijanova.
Read DeSmog’s investigation into The Telegraph’s record of climate falsehoods here. Join Diyora’s climate book club here.
This episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (@mathildamall) and Helena Wadia (@helenawadia)
The music is by @soundofsamfire
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